The Real Use of Liberty

 

Finishing the book of Galatians

 

 

Galatians 5:1-26(KJV)
1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
7Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
10I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
11And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
12I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.


Liberty from what?

 

Sin

 

Law

 

Christ not meant to be added to the Law

 

Law not meant to be overlaid upon the works of Christ – 2-6

 

Run well, run straight, run! - 7

 

Beware the “commentary” we use - 9

 

A little “leaven” will infiltrate the whole lump

 

False teaching will go like wildfire

 

Idea: Let the Lord be your guide - 10

 

Truth may set you free, but…

 

Preaching the truth can be hazardous

 

Preaching truth not easy

 

Liberty is not just being free – 13

 

Still serve by love - 13

 

Still bound by love – 14

 

Still protected by love - 15

 

What keeps us walking right? – 16

 

The Spirit

 

What motivates us to walk wrong?

 

The flesh

 

We cannot follow the law, but we can the Spirit – 18

 

What are the works of the flesh? 19-21

 

Adultery

 

Fornication

 

Uncleanness

 

Lasciviousness

 

Idolatry

 

Witchcraft

 

Hatred

 

Variance

 

Emulations

 

Wrath

 

Strife

 

Seditions

 

Heresies

 

Envyings

 

Murders

 

Drunkenness

 

Revellings

 

What happens to those who do these things?

 

…that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God

 

What are the fruits of the Spirit?

 

Love

 

Joy

 

Peace

 

Longsuffering

 

Gentleness

 

Goodness

 

Faith

 

Meekness

 

Temperance

 

What happens to those who know the liberty of Christ?

 

24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 

Gary Marcum – New beginnings Church – 071810pm